The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has in existence a Professional Standards Unit, whose mandate is to look into complaints from the general public, including aliens, against any immigration officer for malpractice.
This was announced by the public relations officer of the GID, Assistant Superintendent Ensa Jawara, in an exclusive interview with this reporter yesterday.
Jawara stated that the Immigration department, as an institution, has built the capacities of its officers to equip them with proper immigration standards, which are world class.
“We have confidence in our officers in the field. So if such complaints were true, the professional standards unit would have investigated the matter and, if found to be the truth, the unit will recommend for the prosecution of that particular officer,” he added.
He was responding to allegations that immigration officers do take bribes from aliens who have not had their stay in the country regularized.
“My office had never received such complaint, since my tenure in office as public relations officer began one year ago,” he said, adding that the Immigration department is a decent institution, and will not condone any unprofessional misconduct from its officers.
Jawara further stated that the issue of aliens failing to regularize their stay in the country is not taken lightly, and that is why the Immigration department is still calling on landlords to ensure that aliens regularize their immigration status before housing them.
He said the Immigration authority is appealing to the general public to contact the Immigration department on the following telephone numbers - 9038017, 3579908, 9038078, 6528018, 9037991 - for any complaints they want addressed.
